Job SummaryThe Principal Architect, Applications & Integration is the lead architect for custom-developed applications, integration, automation, and AI-enabled solutions. The role establishes architecture direction, reference patterns, engineering standards, and technology roadmaps used by delivery teams to implement secure, scalable, maintainable, and well-integrated solutions.
For established technologies and patterns, the Principal Architect provides risk-based oversight and resolves material design decisions. For new technologies, platforms, or patterns, the role defines the target architecture, establishes guardrails, shapes partner strategy, and guides the first implementations until the approach is proven and repeatable. This is a senior individual-contributor role that leads through technical authority, influence, mentoring, and collaboration.
This is a hybrid role based in our corporate headquarters in suburban Philadelphia (Comar, PA) with the expectation to be onsite two to three days per week.
Primary DutiesCustom Application Architecture- Own architecture for custom web, mobile, cloud-native, API-driven, event-driven, workflow, and internally engineered business solutions.
- Define application frameworks, reference architectures, reusable components, and engineering patterns.
- Guide modernization, technical debt, technology lifecycle, production readiness, and build-versus-buy decisions.
Integration Architecture- Establish patterns and standards for APIs, events, messaging, orchestration, middleware, managed file transfer, and partner integration.
- Define reusable integration services connecting custom solutions, packaged applications, partners, and governed data services.
- Ensure integrations are secure, loosely coupled, observable, supportable, and designed for transaction integrity, error handling, recovery, and performance.
AI & Automation Architecture- Define reusable patterns for LLM access, orchestration, prompt management, retrieval-augmented generation, vector search, agents, inference, and intelligent automation.
- Establish architecture patterns and engineering guardrails for low-code, workflow, and citizen-development platforms, including integration with enterprise applications and services.
- Ensure AI-enabled solutions follow established software engineering, security, testing, deployment, observability, support, and lifecycle standards.
- Partner with Security, Risk, Legal, and Compliance on Responsible AI, privacy, access, traceability, explainability, and auditability.
Architecture Standards & Governance- Maintain reference architectures, reusable patterns, architecture decision records, design guidance, and technology roadmaps.
- Apply risk-based architecture reviews and define engineering requirements for secure development, automated testing, deployment, observability, and lifecycle management.
- Identify architecture risks, technical debt, capability gaps, and lifecycle concerns, and recommend practical remediation.
First-of-Kind Technology Enablement- Lead evaluation and target architecture for technologies and patterns not yet established in the delivery model.
- Work with the PMO and delivery organization to define technical workplans, decision points, specialist capabilities, partner support, and transition criteria.
- Guide initial implementations, capture lessons and reusable assets, and transition mature patterns into repeatable delivery and support.
Technical Leadership & Partner Advisory- Lead architecture decisions through credibility and influence; direct and mentor architects, developers, QA resources, consultants, and partners without routine people-management accountability.
- Evaluate technologies and vendors; support due diligence, proofs of concept, licensing, and build-versus-buy assessments.
- Advise IT leadership on architecture capabilities, investments, risks, partner needs, and roadmap priorities.
Education / Experience- 12+ years of experience in application architecture, solution architecture, integration architecture, software engineering, or large-scale distributed systems.
- Hands-on experience architecting modern cloud applications and integration solutions using APIs, messaging, event-driven, and distributed patterns.
- Experience with DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, observability, security, application lifecycle management, and production-readiness practices.
- Demonstrated success taking a new technology or architecture pattern from evaluation through production and converting it into a repeatable enterprise capability.
- Ability to lead teams and partners through influence and translate complex technical topics into clear options, risks, recommendations, and investment needs.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience with microservices, containers, serverless technologies, API management, integration platforms, LLM platforms, RAG, vector databases, agents, MLOps, workflow or low-code platforms
- Experience within SAP or other large ERP environments
- Experience in manufacturing, supply chain, distribution, or operational settings
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The US base salary range for this full-time position is $161,900.00 to $243,000.00. This role is also eligible for a bonus. The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate will depend on multiple factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge and skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay equity. Compensation decisions are made based on the specific facts and circumstances of each role and candidate.
As a Dorman US contributor, you (and eligible dependents, as applicable) will have access to medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid time off (sick/vacation), and Paid Parental Leave. U.S. employees are entitled to paid holidays, floating holidays, and paid time off starting in their first year of employment depending on hire date. You are also able to participate in our 401k retirement plan (with company match and profit-sharing) and Discounted Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
